3. My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.

4. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will [1] express my riddle on the harp.

5. Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my [2] foes surrounds me,

6. Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches?

7. No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him --

8. For the redemption of [3] his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever --

9. That he should live on eternally, That he should not [4] undergo decay.

10. For he sees that even wise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others.

11. Their [5] inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places to all generations; They have called their lands after their own names.

12. But man in his [8] pomp will not endure; He is like the [7] beasts that [6] perish.

13. This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who approve their words.

14. As sheep they are appointed for [11] Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for [10] Sheol to consume [9] So that they have no habitation.

15. But God will redeem my soul from the [13] power of [12] Sheol, For He will receive me.

16. Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, When the [14] glory of his house is increased;

17. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His [15] glory will not descend after him.

18. Though while he lives he congratulates [16] himself -- And though men praise you when you do well for yourself --

19. [17] He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They will never see the light.

20. Man in his [20] pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the [19] beasts that [18] perish.